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Pope Francis on Historic UAE Tour

Published February 4th, 2019 - 08:18 GMT

Pope Francis arrived in the UAE on 3 February for a 48-hour trip, the first-ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula, birthplace of Islam, where he will meet leading Muslim clerics and hold an open-air mass for some 135,000 Catholics.

Pope Francis was welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019.

This is the first such visit for any pontiff. He will celebrate mass in Abu Dhabi with 120,000 of the more than 1 million Catholics who live in the UAE, and visit the local Catholic Cathedral that opened in 1965 on land donated by the government.

The Pope's visit will send a strong signal across the region and world: People with different beliefs can live, work and worship together. Reverence, respect and compassion are core common values. Prayer is both uniting and unifying.

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Pope Francis (L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP

Pope Francis (L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP

Pope Francis (C-L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C-R) upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP

Pope Francis (C-L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C-R) upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP

Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP

Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP

Grand Imam of al-Azhar: Meeting with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi (Twitter)

Grand Imam of al-Azhar: Meeting with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi (Twitter)

The national flags of Vatican (L) and United Arab Emirates are pictured at the presidential palace in the capital Abu Dhabi during a reception for Pope Francis, on February 4, 2019. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

The national flags of Vatican (L) and United Arab Emirates are pictured at the presidential palace in the capital Abu Dhabi during a reception for Pope Francis, on February 4, 2019. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis speaks to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis speaks to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis blesses photographs of children as he welcomes journalists aboard his plane after take-off on his way to Abu Dhabi, on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis blesses photographs of children as he welcomes journalists aboard his plane after take-off on his way to Abu Dhabi, on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

Pope Francis (L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis (C-L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C-R) upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Grand Imam of al-Azhar: Meeting with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi (Twitter)
The national flags of Vatican (L) and United Arab Emirates are pictured at the presidential palace in the capital Abu Dhabi during a reception for Pope Francis, on February 4, 2019. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis speaks to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis blesses photographs of children as he welcomes journalists aboard his plane after take-off on his way to Abu Dhabi, on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis (L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis (L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis (C-L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C-R) upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis (C-L) is welcomed by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C-R) upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Pope Francis smiles upon his arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE capital on February 3, 2019. Andrew Medichini / POOL / AFP
Grand Imam of al-Azhar: Meeting with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi (Twitter)
Grand Imam of al-Azhar: Meeting with Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi (Twitter)
The national flags of Vatican (L) and United Arab Emirates are pictured at the presidential palace in the capital Abu Dhabi during a reception for Pope Francis, on February 4, 2019. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
The national flags of Vatican (L) and United Arab Emirates are pictured at the presidential palace in the capital Abu Dhabi during a reception for Pope Francis, on February 4, 2019. Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis speaks to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis speaks to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis blesses photographs of children as he welcomes journalists aboard his plane after take-off on his way to Abu Dhabi, on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis blesses photographs of children as he welcomes journalists aboard his plane after take-off on his way to Abu Dhabi, on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP
Pope Francis arrives to speak to reporters aboard a plane on his way to Abu Dhabi on February 3, 2019. Vincenzo PINTO / AFP

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